They've held onto possibly the best group of Cornerbacks in the NFL, but lost both starting Safeties to free agency. The overall secondary is still considered one of the best in the NFL by people I respect.
They have a fierce 3-man front including Derek Wolfe and new addition
Ourlads lists Campbell as a DT, but he's 6'8" and plays everywhere. He uses that great reach and power to beat up Offensive Linemen and get sacks, and they'll put him on rookie LT Jedrick Wills (ruh-roh!)
Wolfe is just okay, Campbell should still be scary-good, and overall this is an okay, but not exceptional front.
The Ravens also drafted a terrific Linebacker in Patrick Queen, who is really like an oversized Strong Safety.
LSU let him cover, run, and hit while teammate Rodney Phillipsfield came downhill and stuffed people. We know LJ Fort here; he's a solid journeyman Linebacker.
Based on this tepid evaluation, you might wonder why that defense was so awesome in 2019.
Well, Earl Thomas, for one thing. He was a beast of a Safety.
For another thing, Lamar Jackson and that Offense were so explosive that they pulled away from their opponents in nearly every game, which took away the run-threat and made the opposing Offense one-dimensional.
This is a fact: Any Quarterback worth a nickel will start to force throws (and stop throwing balls away or eating them) when going for it is the only way his team can win.
...and with a Secondary that good, it just doesn't work. (Please tell me you get this: The Quarterback has to try anyway.)
Now, Campbell and Queen are upgrades. Jefferson wasn't "all that" for the Ravens in 2019, but Earl Thomas was Earl Thomas, and (no disrespect intended), I doubt that the new Safeties are as good (*I haven't done any research on them*).
The Browns WR's are "up against it" vs these Cornerbacks, and Queen can cover Kareem Hunt too, but the Browns should be able to run the ball and hit the Tight Ends.
Don't go overboard on the CB vs WR matchups either (like the Fantasy guys are doing). A healthy OBJ can get open in a phone booth, and I'm not sure if anybody has ever shut Landry down.
There's some anti-Browns bias leaking into these analyses, plus some understandable doubts about Baker Mayfield (who really sucked last season).
The new offensive scheme isn't much different than the one Mayfield ran at Oklahoma, and he's had some reps with a healthy OBJ this time.
A balanced Offense including motion, play-action, and quick-hitters can move the ball on these guys.
Verily, third and longs, or getting behind by a couple TDs, could make for a very long day for the good guys. The Defense has to do it's part.
Jim Donovan says the Browns shouldn't go all-run all the time, but instead use their whole playbook, and I agree.
But that's really kinda built into the Offense (and Mayfield's brain) anyway:
This Offense really isn't conservative at all, any more than the Superbowl Broncos or last successful Cowboys or Stefanski's Vikings were.
If the Quarterback sees a mismatch or a soft spot, he will throw the ball.
Campbell vs Wills could get ugly, but the Browns have Tight Ends to chip with, they can roll/run away from him, and without a firm pocket and at least a 5-step drop, Campbell can only go through Wills.
I know I've been telling you that Hunt isn't here to collect splinters so that a second or third Tight End can play, but this game might be an exception.
Comrade Stefanski might run some 22's (with only one actual WR) to get that nickel Corner off the field and get another Linebacker on it.
I can't see the Ravens using only one Cornerback, even vs a 22 set.
There are variations: Janovich-Chubb or Hunt, or Hunt-Chubb. (Expect mostly Hooper-Njoku so far at TE). Then pick your WR.
The guys on NFL Radio are predicting a Ravens blowout based on where the Browns Defense ranked through 2019 and the absences of Delpit and Williams...
Then on how awesome Lamar Jackson was through 2019.
How dumb is this? Let me count the ways:
1: The Browns handed the Ravens a 40-25 defeat in Baltimore last season. In the rematch (with Vernon Davis and Myles Garrett MIA) the Ravens won 31-15. (Points-wise, that's 56-55 Ravens.)
2: While the Ravens lost both starting Safeties from the 2019 Defense, and acquired Patrick Queen and Calais Campbell, the Browns' Offense drafted LT Jedrick Wills 1st overall, signed Jack Conklin and Austin Hooper, and also drafted Nick Harris and Harrison Bryant (*JC Tretter still Questionable*).
3: Both OBJ and Jarvis Landry played hurt in 2019.
4: I just roughed out the actual talent on the Ravens 2020 Defense. How can a sentient being say that the Ravens 2020 Defense "woefully overmatches" the 2020 Browns' Offense?
5: When the Browns and Titans beat the 2019 Ravens, they did so by somehow managing to contain Lamar Jackson (ps Melvin Ingram they outplayed you. You didn't "let" them do anything. You got stoned. Deal with it.)
Once the Ravens fell behind, the Titans and Browns ran balanced, run-first Offenses, and knocked this awesome historic Defense on it's ass.
I'm not by any means predicting that the Browns will beat the Ravens. I'm just calling the guys on Fantasy Radio dumbasses for dismissing this significantly upgraded Browns Offense so casually.
Their dumbassitude reached further heights of boobery, as they cited Greedy Williams' absence as one reason why the Ravens would slaughter the hapless Browns defense, despite it's own significant upgrades (see last post).
"All they have to do is throw away from Ward -snicker-".
Greedy Williams was below average as a rookie, while Rodney Mitchellfield (who is replacing him) has graded out as elite ever since he became a Cleveland Brown.
REAL analysts assume nothing in re Greedy Williams: He has yet to prove anything in the NFL.
I expect a competitive game here. The biggest challenge the good guys face is the Ravens' unpredictable, talent-laden, and hyper-prolific Offense.
The Browns' D has to at least hold the Ravens to a Field Goal on their first couple possessions, and that's the hardest part of this, because:
The 2020 Browns Offense can move the ball and score points on the 2020 Ravens Defense as long as they're not 10 points down and in 2nd and 10s all day (that happens when you pass on first down much vs these Cornerbacks duh).
The Ravens' Defense is pretty good, but only dominates when protecting a healthy lead, see?
They've built it that way on purpose, with those amazing Cornerbacks, and now Patrick Queen. They get by with one Calais Campbell and Free Agents named Joe for "filler".
(*Ok well their odd hybrid Defensive scheme helps them sign and draft unique players cheap too*)
The Cleveland Browns are the more talented team here. If you think Lamar Jackson trumps everything else, you need a brain transplant.
I'll concede that the Ravens 2020 Offensive Line, Running Backs, and Tight Ends are as good or better than the corresponding Browns units, and even that the Ravens have the better Cornerbacks and Quarterback for the moment.
But the Browns WRs, Defensive Line, Linebackers, and Safeties are better.
Yes. They are.
The Browns' talent is also more "balanced":
The Browns Offense can chip or avoid the venerable Calais Campbell, but the Ravens have Oliviere Vernon and a 4-deep rotation of penetrating disruptors at DT to go with Myles Garrett to deal with.
The Ravens now have Patrick Queen at Linebacker (if that's what he is), but...who else?
LJ Fort? McPh oops I missed Matt Judon! I get to call even myself an idiot this time, because this guy is good!
Judon got lost in the Calais Campbell hype-madness, but he's only 28 (6'3", 275 lbs), 4.73 40).
I hereby retract what I said about the Browns' Linebackers being superior to the Ravens' crew, and also about Campbell being their only passrush threat.
Campbell is a true Defensive Lineman, but Judon is a prototypical 3-4 OLB, which makes comparing him to the Browns' 4-3 types complicated.
Still, with (tecnically) Queen and Campbell listed as Linebackers, I...
Well it's a draw.
Quit ignoring Rodney Phillipsfield and brushing Takitakifield off like lint, and pretending Goodsonfield doesn't even exist. Judon and Queen don't erase them.
But I digress: Judon was there when Nick Chubb racked up over 160 yards on these guys, and won't make a big difference vs the run this time either.
This will be a tough game. You have to lean toward the Ravens due to their well-established systems and veteran roster, but predicting a Ravens blowout is idiotic.
Just sayin okbye
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